Research briefings

This page provides access to research briefings produced by the House of Commons Library, the House of Lords Library and the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST). You can filter the research briefings by date, type, or one of 350 topics. Pick your options from the dropdown menus.

Glossary

Commons Briefing papers: Papers providing in-depth and impartial analysis on every major piece of primary legislation and on other topics of public and parliamentary concern. Regular statistics papers are also published.

Lords Library Notes: Authored publications by the research section of the House of Lords Library that provide analysis of Bills, subjects for debate in the House and other issues of interest to Members.

POSTbriefs: Responsive policy briefings from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology based on mini-literature reviews and peer review, typically commissioned by select committees and library research services.

POSTnotes: Proactive four-page policy briefings from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology based on reviews of the research literature, interviews with stakeholders and peer review, commissioned by the POST Board.

This reading list brings together briefings on Brexit by the Parliamentary libraries and the Devolved Assembly research services with reports by Parliamentary and Devolved Assembly committees following the result of the EU Referendum on 23 June 2016.

This Commons Library research briefing summarises a wide range of social statistics. Subjects covered include agriculture, crime, defence, education, elections, environment and energy, health, housing, local government, population and migration, social security and transport.

This paper explains how passenger rail services are provided in England and the policies of successive governments towards rail franchising. It also looks at those proposals which have been put forward for further reform – specifically more partnership working, competition, public ownership and devolution.

This is one of two briefing papers on rail passenger franchising. This paper sets out the terms of the various rail franchises in England, Wales and Scotland. A second paper, SN6521, sets out in more detail how franchising works and the franchising policy of successive governments.

This paper summarises Phase 2b of the proposed new high speed rail line between London and the North of England (HS2). It gives a brief overview of the scheme, its costs, compensation arrangements and the preferred route. It also looks at Northern Powerhouse Rail (HS3) and high speed rail to and within Scotland.

This paper summarises Phase 2a of the proposed new high speed rail line between London and the North of England (HS2). It gives a brief overview of the scheme, its costs, compensation arrangements and the Bill which will give statutory and planning authority for the construction of the scheme.

This paper summarises Phase 1 of the proposed new high speed rail line between London and the North of England (HS2). It gives a brief overview of the scheme, its costs, compensation arrangements and the Act which gives statutory and planning authority for the construction of the scheme. Construction is planned to begin soon.

This Lords Library briefing has been prepared in advance of the forthcoming Queen’s Speech, which is due to take place on 21 June 2017. The House of Lords is due to debate the Queen’s Speech over five days between 22 and 29 June 2017. This briefing is one of five prepared by the House of Lords Library to cover the themes of each day of debate.

This paper gives a brief overview of the GB train fleet, explains who owns the trains and how they are leased to the companies that provide train services. It also looks at four big rolling stock procurements: InterCity Express, Thameslink, Crossrail and HS2 and sets out the policies of successive governments.

This paper sets out the jurisdiction and funding of the British Transport Police (BTP), including the powers and responsibilities of the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA). It sets out the force’s operation approach and summarises the policing environment. It concludes with a brief summary of Government reviews of BTP and possible plans for the future. Although BTP is not devolved in Scotland, it also includes information on the Scottish Government’s plans to merge BTP Scotland into Police Scotland.

This paper explains how transport has been devolved from Westminster to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It gives information on those areas which remain reserved to Westminster and where you can find more information about devolved policies.